Reliability of an infrared forehead skin thermometer for core temperature measurements

Abstract

The SensorTouch thermometer performs an infrared measurement of the skin temperature above the Superficial Temporal Artery (STA). This study evaluates the validity and the accuracy of the SensorTouch thermometer. Two experiments were performed in which the body temperature was measured with a rectal sensor, with an oesophageal sensor and with the SensorTouch. After entering a warm chamber the SensorTouch underestimated the core temperature during the first 10 minutes. After that, the SensorTouch was not significantly different from the core temperature, with an average difference of 0.5 degrees C (SD 0.5 degrees C) in the first study and 0.3 degrees C (SD 0.2 degrees C) in the second study. The largest differences between the SensorTouch and the core temperature existed 15 minutes after the start of the exercise. During this period the SensorTouch was significantly higher than the core temperature. The SensorTouch did not provide reliable values of the body temperature during periods of increasing body temperature, but the SensorTouch might work under stable conditions.

Considerations for the measurement of core, skin and mean body temperatures

“…This, in combination with its proximity to the brain, explains why forehead temperature is among the warmest skin sites (Sheard et al, 1941;Olesen and Fanger, 1973;Werner and Reents, 1980;Zaproudina et al, 2008), why it varies during pathological conditions (Weinstein et al, 1991;Ng and Chong, 2006) and why it is sometimes comparable to axillary and rectal temperatures (Ilsley et al, 1983). Unfortunately, surface temperatures are powerfully influenced by ambient conditions, thus explaining why the temporal artery surface temperature cannot reliably track deep-body temperatures (Low et al, 2007;Kistemaker et al, 2006;Ronneberg et al, 2008).…”

Accuracy, Precision, and Validity of Fever Detection using Non-invasive Temperature Measurement in Adult Coronary Care Unit Patients with Pulmonary Catheters

“…이마체 온은 직장체온이나 고막체온보다 더 정확하고 (Greenes & Fleisher, 2001), 아동의 발열상태를 잘 감별해 내며 (Siberry, Diener -West, Schappell, & Karron, 2002), 구강체온보다 더 정확할 뿐 아니라 폐동 맥은 물론 식도의 심부체온에 필적한다는 보고가 있다 (Carroll, Finn, Judge, Gill, & Sawyer, 2004). 그러나 이마체온은 안정시의 체온 은 잘 반영하지만 발열상태는 잘 감별해 내지 못한다는 상반된 연 구 결과도 보고되고 있다 (Kimberger, Cohen, Illievich, & Lenhardt, 2007;Kistemaker, Den Hartoq, & Daanen, 2006;Ronneberg, Roberts, McBean, & Center, 2008) (Kimberger et al, 2007;Kistemaker et al, 2006;Lawson et al, 2007;Ronnerberg, Roberts, McBean, & Center, 2008) Table 2). …”

Intra and inter-rater reliability of infrared image analysis of masticatory and upper trapezius muscles in women with and without temporomandibular disorder

“…Therefore, with a rigid central control, the body temperature remains at approximately 37 ºC, and consequently, chemical reactions are processed and homeostasis is maintained 2 . The measurement of the central body temperature is one of the methods commonly used in clinical practice for the diagnosis and monitoring of feverish states 3 . To measure the peripheral temperature, the infrared thermography is applied.…”